Madonna news - Aug. 2014

Madonna 'slams Lady Gaga and ex-hubbie Guy Ritchie in new song lyrics'?

The Queen of pop, who celebrated her 56th birthday earlier this month, appears to have taken no prisoners while working on her 13th solo album.

Madonna has reportedly laid into Lady Gaga and ex-hubbie Guy Ritchie in songs which could end up on her new album.

Leaked lyrics from the track Heartbreak City allegedly slam Ritchie for "getting what [he] came for, a bit of fame and fortune, and I'm no longer needed."

While Gaga, who has praised Madonna as a major influence on her work, is the apparent target in the song Two Steps Behind Me, in which Madge sings: "You're a copycat, where is my royalty?," the Sun reports.

Neither track may actually end up on the new album, but the lyrics show that The Queen of pop, who celebrated her 56th birthday earlier this month, has not lost her touch.

After originally finding fame in the '80s with hits like Papa Don't Preach and True Blue, Madonna has gone on to have hits across four decades, establishing herself as one of the biggest musical icons of all time.

Madonna and Richie got married at Skibo Castle in Scotland in December 2000 before divorcing eight years later. They have a son Rocco, 14.

One of the ways Madge manages to stay in such great shape is by slavishly practising yoga every day.

While on board a yacht in Ibiza recently she demonstrated several moves with a pal – including the spreadeagle.

Madonna was seen wearing a black and white floppy hat, striped black and white top and black yoga pants for the work-out session and her older pal seemed to be having a whale of a time helping her flex.

She was also seen with her daughter Lourdes on the trip and the pair, along with a group of friends, are glad to be taking some time out from their hectic schedules.

~ There are other reports who say that "Two Steps Behind Me" is not directed specifically to Lady Gaga but to all copycat artists, and that "Heartbreak City" is not about Guy Ritchie but rather Brahim Zaibat. Since the album tracklist isn't final yet, it's not sure if these songs will make the cut.

Could Madonna collaborate with the Detroit Institute of Arts Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo exhibit?

DETROIT, MI -- The Detroit Institute of Arts and several Metro Detroit arts organizations will celebrate Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo next year in a series of events focused on the famed art couple's time in Detroit.

Kahlo's inclusion in the exhibit - she lived in Detroit while Rivera created the DIA's "Detroit Industry" mural in its Rivera Court - could draw some star power to the celebration. Madonna, who was born in Bay City and raised in Pontiac and Rochester Hills, recently played up her connection to Detroit, is a well-known collector and passionate fan of Kahlo's work, often speaking publicly on the painter's impact on her life.

Madonna's passionate support of Kahlo, combined with her Detroit ties, leads to speculation the pop star could play a role in next year's exhibit. A DIA spokesperson acknowledged last week that Madonna is a known collector of Kahlo's works. However, no announcement from the DIA or the singer herself has been made to include her paintings in the collection.

Several attempts by MLive.com to reach Madonna's publicist Liz Rosenberg, to gauge her client's interest in selling or loaning part of her Kahlo collection to the DIA, were unsuccessful.

Work displayed by Rivera and Kahlo, best known for her self-portraits, should make for one of the most popular DIA exhibits in recent memory. It be held March 15 to July 12. Kahlo is arguably the most famous woman painter of all time, and was even portrayed by Selma Hayek in the 2002 movie, "Frida."

Diplo got drunk with Madonna and 4 other details on their upcoming collaboration

Diplo is one of the most in-demand producers on the planet. Who else but the 35-year-old DJ could knock out "four or five" songs for Usher's next album in a week's time, work on new tunes with both Ty Dolla $ign and Lorde and gather 30 new tracks for Major Lazer's upcoming release without breaking a sweat? In his new Billboard cover story (out Aug. 22), the star DJ sheds some light on much-anticipated music he's working on as well as collaborating with Her Madgesty herself. Here are five details we learned about Diplo's high-power collaboration with Madonna on her follow-up to 2012's MDNA :

1. Diplo has joined Madonna for three studio sessions so far, and the alcohol was flowing on one night: They connected in New York and he's clearly excited about how the recording went. "One [song] is super weird," Diplo says. "Late one night in the studio we got a little bit drunk and she improvised a little hook and we made a song out of it. I think it's going to be a breakthrough if she can manage to get everything together and get it out properly."

2. What does Madonna drink when she gets drunk in the studio? Rosé. "It was nice," says Diplo. "I don't think she really drinks, either."

3. Ariel Rechtshaid and MNEK are also involved. Rechtshaid, who has collaborated with Vampire Weekend and Sky Ferreira, and MNEK, the London songwriter who worked on Disclosure's album, have gone into the studio to work out the verses of a song that Madonna has taken a shine to. Rechtshaid has joined Diplo and Madonna for their studio sessions.

4. Madonna invited Diplo to her Oscar party… but he couldn't make it. Still, the pair began texting, and Diplo sent Madonna over some music. Madge took the production more seriously than Diplo could have imagined. "She wrote me back like a 20-page text, notes about all these songs," he says -- and a collaboration was underway.

5. One of the in-the-works Madonna tracks has unwittingly evolved into a big pop record. "That song is on like version 20," Diplo says of the as-yet-untitled track. "It went from a piano ballad to a 'Turn Down for What'-style song, which I didn't like. Now it's somewhere in the middle."

For a larger peek inside the wild world of Diplo -- from the dollar-sign details of his empire to his Katy Perry connection -- read Billboard's full cover story out Friday, Aug. 22.

Madonna's underwear up for auction

The biggest collection of memorabilia relating to the 'Material Girl' hitmaker will be sold by Julien's Auctions of Beverly Hills on November 7 and among the lots up for grabs is "the latex mask, waspie, gloves, bra and panties worn with Katy Perry for a 2014 V Magazine cover photo shoot", which is worth $1,000-$4,000.

Asked if it was "creepy" that someone will own Madonna's pants, her publicist Liz Rosenberg told the New York Post newspaper's Page Six column: "If the shoe fits, then wear them in good health."

Among the more unusual items up for grabs are the star's diary from 1988, which includes hand-written entries detailing an appearance on 'Late Night with David Letterman' and dates with then-husband Sean Penn, and a signed document relating to the former couple's separation.

Also on sale are costumes the 56-year-old star wore in her movies 'A League of Their Own', 'Evita', and 'The Next Big Thing', negatives and prints of nude pictures Madonna posed for in 1979 - some of which later appeared in Penthouse magazine - and the Marilyn Monroe-inspired red dress, stole and jewellery from her 'Material Girl' video, which are expected to fetch $20,000-$40,000 in the sale.

Madonna's publicist said the singer is currently on vacation with her four children and is unaware the auction - which she will not profit from - is taking place.

She added: "I do not believe any of what is being auctioned off was in Madonna's possession.

"Designers often supply clothes for shoots that are then returned to the designers."

Madonna splits with boyfriend Timor Steffens amidst birthday vacation

Madge is single and ready to mingle! Days before her 56th birthday, Madonna split from much-younger boyfriend Timor Steffens , asking him to pack his bags and head home in the middle of their European vacation.

The pair, who have been spotted out in public together since January, arrived in the South of France on Aug. 2, along with her children, but on son Rocco 's Aug. 11 birthday, “Madonna politely asked Timor to take his luggage and leave. He packed up and left the trip and said they were done,” a source tells Us Weekly.

The pop icon has since traveled to Ibiza and her 26-year-old boy toy has not joined her. But don't worry about the Material Girl.

A source close to Madonna tells Us, “It was never serious, and she was never that into it. She's been working on her album and getting Lola off to school, no time for anything heavy.”

Prior to dating backup dancer Steffens, Madonna was with Brahim Zaibat , also three decades her junior, for three years. The Grammy winner has shown no signs of a traumatic breakup on her Instagram account lately, posting several birthday-themed images with the hashtag “livingforlove.”

You know Madonna wasn't about to let her 56th birthday come and go without doing something big!

The singer posted a number of photos from her sexy (of course) party over the weekend, but she first kicked off her special day with a gorgeous, topless photo of her from the '80s. " In my Birthday suit! The girl cant help it! Thanks for all your good wishes!!!! #grateful #livingforlove ," she wrote.

The festivities continued with an elaborate burlesque-themed party, that included her family and model pal Kate Moss. In the fun photo of the duo, Madge wrote, " Bow down Bitches! #whatitfeelslikeforagirl ."

However, Madonna did run into a little bit of trouble during her birthday fun. It turns out, Instagram cracked the whip on one of her naughtier photos that showed off some nipple (no, not hers).

The picture was taken down, but the superstar fought back with another picture of the beautiful woman covering her breasts and the caption, " Instagram can take away our nipples but they cant take away our fun!!!! #hypocrisy #unapologeticbirthdaybitch ."

Of course, this outspoken star isn't a stranger to a little social media controversy. She recently shared a super-sexy and explicit Instagram selfie which consisted a racy crotch shot. "Getting ready for my B-day! Yes we hang our dresses in the bathtub!thanks D&G! #unapologeticbitch," Madonna captioned the pic.

All 16 of the Icons name-dropped in Madonna's Vogue are now gone

An odd bit of trivia about the passing of Lauren Bacall on Tuesday: As Marci Robin pointed out on Twitter, all 16 of the 20th -century stars immortalized in Madonna's Vogue are now dead. The famous black-and-white music video, directed by David Fincher, is an homage to the golden age of Hollywood.

The song came out in March of 1990; Greta Garbo died just a month later. (James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, and others had already gone, of course.) Bacall, 24 years on, was the final one.

Madonna rumoured to appear as star performer on The X Factor Live final

Madonna is reportedly close to signing a deal with Simon Cowell to appear on The X Factor.

The Hung Up singer has never performed on a talent show before and her first appearance on the UK edition of the music show would be a coup for Cowell.

It would also help to boost the programmes waning viewing figures, which have dropped since the music mogul left the judging panel in 2011.

The last series, with Gary Barlow serving as head judge, recorded the lowest ratings of the UK series ever.

With Cowell and newlywed Cheryl Fernandez Versini making a return to the series, producers are pulling out all the stops to ensure the show is a success.

Cowell is reportedly using his considerable influence to secure a line-up of superstar performers for the live final act, that include Irish rockers U2, Adele, Take That and Cheryl. And top of the list is the Queen of Pop herself, Madonna.

A source told The Sun: "It's looking very hopeful Madonna will perform, possibly in November on one of the live shows. There are a lot of big names releasing music at that time, but she's absolutely the number one name we are trying to secure.

"She needs her next album to be a success in the UK and a performance on ITV in front of 12 million people would be the best platform."

Madonna has been named the best-selling female artist of all time with over 300 million albums sold to date. If she agrees to the deal, the singer is will showcase her new music before an audience of millions.

The show has previously secured the support of major home grown talents, including Robbie Williams and Westlife, while A-list international stars including Beyonce, Rihanna, Katy Perry and Whitney Houston have also shared the stage with the British finalists.

This year the judge's panel includes Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole with the new addition of former Spice Girl Mel B.